Self-separating electrical connector



Dec. 5, 1950 H. H. BURTT ETAL 2,532,538

sELE-sEPAEATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed lay 26. 1949 /7 v /3 /4 22 /6 HORAT/O H 50977' ByC/IPL E Sw'T/QOM Patented Dec. 5, 1950 SELF-SEPARATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Horatio H. Burtt, Hartsdale, Carl E. Soderstrom, New York, and William W. Koenig, Flushing, N. Y., assignors to Winchester Electronics Com- Diny. New York, N. Y

Application May 26. 1949, Serial No. 95,476

1 Claim. (Cl. 173-328) l This invention'relate's to a self-separating cable connector. v

It is an object of the present invention-to provide a self-separating connector employing male and female contact terminals wherein the male contact elements include a rejector for the disengagement of the female sleeve contact from the groove i9 adapted to receive a retaining clip 2| for making secure the assembly within the opening I2 and against action of a spring 22 which serves to keep the ejector sleeve I extended outwardly over the contacting surface I3. A cable wire can be connected to avprojection 23 having spaced enlargements 24 and 2'5. Enlargement 28 male contact upon the insulating parts being-released from one another. which requires upon the assembly of the male contact into the insulating abuts the clip 2i to prevent the inward movement of the assembly. This male contact assemmember or part but a single retaining washer or clip, the rejecting sleeve being retained upon thew male element against an enlargement shoulder` on the element.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-separating connector for cables wherein the means for retaining the insulated parts containing the contacts together includes a central ground terminal fixed to one of the connector parts at the center thereof and having an internally threaded portion receiving a screw serving to secure the connector parts together, the screw extending to the outer end of the connector and bearing against receptacle portions housing the cable wires.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a quick and self-separating connector which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, compact, easy to install in a wall opening, and emcient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary and longitudinal. sectional view of the connector embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the conl nector.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary and sectional view of the male and female contact terminal parts.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining element or clip.

Referring now to the figures, III represents an insulating part adapted to contain male contact assemblies II circumferentially spaced throughout the insulating part in circumferentially spaced openings I2. This male contact assembly includes a contacting surface I3, Fig. 3, a

shoulder portion I4 serving to limit the outward movement of an ejector sleeve I5 siidable upon a shank portion I3 which hasa reduced portion I1 lying in a narrowed part of opening I2 and a.

bly will be assembled upon the part I0 by placing the ejector sleeve I5 upon the shank I3, thereafter the spring 22 and finally extending the assembly into the opening with the reduced portion I1 through the narrow part of the opening I2 so as to locate the clip 2l in place within the groove I9. Thereafter'cables can be connected to the portions 23.

To be coupled to the insulating part Ill with the male contact terminal assemblies is an insulating part 21 having'female contact terminals 23 corresponding respectively with the male terminals II of the part I0. These female contact ter- I -minals will enter the openings I2 of the male assembly of part I0 so as to permit the entry of the contact surf ace I3 of the male assembly thereinto. The female contact 23 is slit, as indicated at 29, to provide the contact terminal portions with a certain amount of spring action in order that a tight frictional grip will be had upon the contactfsurface I3. The female contact 28 has a, flange 3| which enters a large hole 32 in the part 21 and a shank portion 33 which extends out of a reduced diameter portion of hole 32 which has a. groove 34 for receiving a retaining clip 35 serving as an abutment against the outer face of the insulating part 21 to retain the contact terminal 28 against inward displacement. On the shank portion 33 are flanges 36 to facilitate the connection of a. cable wire to the terminal.

The opening I2 in the insulating' part I0 is tapered, as indicated at 31, to receive a rubber seal ring 38. The opening 32 in the insulating part 21 vis tapered at 39 to receive a rubber sealing ring 4I whereby to provide for an air tight connection of the contact with the insulating member.

assasss amntmtenusn invitantemma-1 race of-theinsulating21. .Afnut Il is'confnectedtothethreadedshankportionlandbears against the flange 44 of the'part 2110,' when:

nrentwitnthereari'aceo!theinsulatingpart21.

i coupled relationship. the contacts of the respective parts being-placed in engagement with one vanother and against the action of springs 22 of l the individual male contacts.

adjusted, bring the 'shoulder 48 into tisht engages v lThe' ground screw has a head 88 thereon with a slot 88 therein and a bail 8i whereby the screw On the outervendof'the shank portion 41 is areduced portion having nanges. as indicated at' 82 adapted-for the wirelto the terminal 48.

The. insulating part I8 is Ynttecl within a sleeve `I4 having a ilange Il at one end thereof against which is brought to bear asealing ring 88 disposed'betweenthe ange and a flange 81 on the outer end of the insulating part I8. Surround-` ing the sleeve 84 is an .attaching sleeve I8 formed of metal and having a threaded portion 88 which extends through anopening 8| 'in a wall 82 such Athreaded ring 88 is tightened upon the threaded portion I8 of sleeve I8 to .secure the sleeve .88 within theopening 8l, the opening 8| being enlarged to receive the locking nut 88. A rubber sealing ring 84 is disposed between a shoulder connection oi a ground cable can be tightened or loosened by hand. Ground currents will pass through the ground screw 88, the cap 18, shell 14, ground ring 18 and ground terminal 11. The head 88 of the ground screw. 88

g has engagement with the outer face of the cap as a. bulkhead of a pressurized cabin aeroplane;

8l and a face of the wall 82, whereby to provide 25 a gastight connection therebetween.`

The sleeve 88 has an externally threaded portion .88 with an inwardly extending flange 81. The insulating part 21 has a flange 68 and between this ilange 88 and the flange 81 of the sleeve 88 there is disposed a rubber sealing ring 88. The insulating part 21 and the flange 88 are brought into tight engagement with the flange 81 of the sleeve 88 by the threading upon the threaded portion 88 of the sleeve 58 an internally threaded retaining ring 1I having an inwardly extending flange 12 engaging with the outer'face of the insulating part 21. Accordingly, thev linsulating part 21 through its flange connection with the sleeve 88 and through the sleeve 58 is tightly secured to the wall 82. By means of the several rubber sealing rings 4I, 48 .and 89, there is little chance of air leakage through the wall opening 8| or through the insulating member 21. The insulating part 21 bearing the female contacts is made fixed to the wall 82 in the manner 'ro further retain the insulating part in withf in the shell 14 is a cap 18 having a sleeve portion 18. The ground screw has a tapered portion 82 for engagement with the rubber sealing ring 88.

Depending i'rom.Y the shell 14 is an externallrlr-y threaded portion 88 to which is threaded a ilttfng 84. The cable will enterthe shell 14 through the fltting 84 and its wires can .be connected with the portions 28 of the male assemblies and the male contact from the female contact 28 wherev upon the disengagement of the insulating part I8 and the parts coupled to it can be eilected easily and without the same being frozen or stuck to the female contacts of the part 21. The contact terminals are thus self-separating.

It will .thus be apparent that the ground contact elements serve as the means for the securement of the male and female contacts in engagement with one another. It should be further apparent that all of the parts are provided with sealing ring connections to prevent the leakage of air either between the ilttings and the'wall openingor through the ttings or the openings thereof. Accordingly, an air tight connector has been provided. The sleeve portion 18 of the cap 18 engages with a rubber sealing ring 88 lying within opening 82 and against inwardly extend- ,ing ange 8| of the insulating part i8.

It should be further apparent that the male and female assemblies are so constructed that they can be made secure within the insulating parts by the simple extension of clips 2| and 85 over the shank portions of the contacts. To facilitate the connecction of the clips with the shank portions, the insulating parts are provided with raised bosses 96 and 91 on the respec- 5 tive insulating parts and on their outer faces 18. The inner end of the sleeve portion 18 engages with a shoulder 8| extending inwardly within an' opening 82 within the insulating part Il. A rubber sealing ring 83 is provided between the cap 18 and the outer end of the shell 14. The sleeve portion 18 of the cap 18 has a shoulder 84 receiving a rubber sealing ring 88. A connecting ground screw 88 extends through the cap 18 and its sleeve portion, through the opening of the insulating part I0 and is threaded., as indicated at 81, to engage with the internally threaded portion of the female ground contact 45 of the insulating part 21. By means of this screw, the

thereof.

The clip 2i, Fig. 4, is of U-shape and has a central opening 98 and rounded edges projecting slightly inwardly in order to have frictional engagement with the shank portions of the contacts to prevent the easy outward displacement of the clip.

While various changes may bemade in the `detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as deflned by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An electric cable connector comprising insulating parts, each of said insulating parts having openings therein arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship and central openings, male contact assemblies mounted` in the circumferentially spaced openings of one of the insulating parts, said male assemblies including spring ejecting means, the other insulating part having female contacts assembled in the circumferentially spaced openings thereof, the female contacts entering the openings of the male assemblies and engaging with the ejector means thereon, a female ground contact having a shank portion extending through the central opening of the insulating part having the female contacts and said ground contact being internally threaded. means for securing the insulating part having the female contacts within a wall opening, a shell assembly surrounding the insulating part having the male contact assemblies adapted to be fitted within the means securing the insulating part having the female contacts to the wall, a. ground screw threaded at one end thereof and extending through the shell assembly and the insulating part having the male assemblies for engagement with the female ground contact whereby to forcibly cause the engagement of the male contacts with the female contacts and to retain the same in contact relationship against the action of the ejecting means of the male contact assemblies, said means adapted to secure the insulating member having lthe female contacts to a wall opening including a sleeve secured to the wall opening, said shell assembly surrounding the insulating member having the male contact assemblies including a sleeve surrounding the insulating member and adapted to enter the sleeve supportingthe insulating member with the female contacts and an internally threaded shell member, said insulating member with the male contacts having an external flange, a ground ring threaded to the ment with the female ground contact whereby internally threaded member and engaging with $5 the ange of the insulating member with the male contacts to retain the insulating member ground currents can pass to the ground ring through the ground screw, the cap, the shell member and ground ring, said shell assembly having a fitting through which cable wires may be extended for connection with the ground ring and with the male contacts.

HORATIO H. BURTT.

CARL E. SODERSTROM.

WILLIAM W. KOENIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,068,399 Dash et al Jan. 19, 1937 2,272,379 Loukota et al Feb. 10, 1942 2,438,412 Morris Mar. 23, 1948 2,440,279 Larkins, Jr. Apr. 27, 1948 2,443,654 Else et al June 22, 1948 2,457,119 Bour Dec. 28, 1948 2,466,370 Burtt Apr. 5, 1949 FORETGN PATENTS 'Number Country Date 451,305 Germany Feb. 7, 1926 619,631 Germany Apr. 24, -1934 

